Jade Temple

The verdict

Inspired by both modern and traditional Chinese culture, Jade Temple is Neil Perry’s latest outpost and is the sister venue to Sydney fave, Spice Temple. The interiors include two giant cast-iron lion statues (and we do mean giant) standing guard at the entrance, traditional bamboo screens throughout, and live fish tanks inside the kitchen. The menu is designed to share, with a banquet menu featuring meats like the char sui, whole roast duck, and the zesty lemon chicken. Asian staples such as dumplings, steamed buns, and wontons are also on the menu (phew).

To quench your thirst, the cocktail menu has thirteen different choices, which we love, because choices, and they’re each based around mythical Chinese folklore characters and a tiki twist. Honourable mentions go to the Rainbow Dragon, which is made from BBQ duck washed cognac, rum, sweet marmalade, citrus, cardamom, and five-spice falernum. For something lighter, the Pangu cocktail draws on the notion of yin and yang, which features pandan and coconut, tequila, peppercorn, refreshing watermelon, and lemon.

Image credit: Jade Temple